Whether it is a website design, a graphic, or a video simplicity is necessary. Simplicity has a tendency to succeed in every area that it is used.

As technology advanced over the years, everything tended to become more complicated and complex until an age of creativity and simplicity took over. When this happened, things that were previously complicated and ugly became simple and beautiful.

Logos

One example of technology and design becoming more simple is Apple’s Logo:

Apple’s original logo began simple although it had a rainbow color scheme on the apple. The apple became much more simple with its change to a solid black color.

When I think of simple, I think of Google. Google has revolutionized the search engine and the email account. I used to have a yahoo and an AOL email address until gmail came around. It was like a breath of fresh air. Google as a search engine couldn’t be any more simple and effective.

Applications

Another great example of simplicity in design is in John Saddington’s Standard Theme WordPress Theme.

The Standard Theme is incredibly good looking because of its simplicity and lack of excess “stuff” that a ton of websites add just cause they can.

This theme has the bare essentials plus some although they are all designed with a focused and simple color scheme and style. Everything that this theme incorporates is clean and simple.

In my experience with churches and design, the content that is less complex and more focused is more effective. Along with the media side of sermons, the body of the actual sermon needs to be simple and focused.

Sermons and Media:

One of my new favorite sermon series has to be the White Flag Series by Andy Stanley. The sermon is very simple and powerful. He goes straight to the point and focuses on a few main things. The Title Package that accompanies this series is very well made and it is simple.

John Saddington running all through downtown.
The sermon and video are simple and can be described in a few sentences:

The series is about Jonah and how he ran from God. We wanted to show a character running endlessly and becoming more and more exhausted. Additionally, the subject was to end up in increasingly desolate environments.

The reveal at the end would show a white flag. We wanted the viewer to see the subject running, becoming beat down by the run and eventually surrendering.

Sermons and the media associated with them should be very focused and simple so that the church can take away a few important things that they will remember rather than too many off topic points. As old and standard as a three point sermon is, it is effective and simple.

Simplicity can be used in so many other areas than just these three.

What are some things you think of when you think of simple?